What Is Acupuncture?

Acupuncture is a mix of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) points based on your TCM pattern and tongue and pulse reading combined with a biomedical approach to strategically choosing points that target certain nerves or muscles to decrease pain.

Will I need more than one treatment?

Research supports a sequence of 6-8 treatments to assess efficacy. If you and your ND decide to do multiple treatments, a series of acupuncture visits is a chance to ask your ND your questions on a regular basis! Acupuncture appointments are usually scheduled weekly or bi-weekly and are shorter than regular ND follow up appointments.

What Can Acupuncture Help with?

Acupuncture aims to treat the symptoms and the underlying conditions by supporting the body’s ability to heal itself. It may be an option as part of your treatment plan for:

  • headaches, hot flashes and menopausal symptoms
  • enhancing fertility
  • digestive concerns
  • pain, and stress
  • acute colds/upper respiratory illness concerns such as sinus congestion and cough
  • support your body when there is a concern of interactions with medications

It is safe to use alongside most treatment plans.

How Does It Feel?

Acupuncture reduces pain by improving circulation, increasing the release of “substance P,” relaxing soft tissue, and calming the nervous system.

It shouldn’t be painful, but there are a range of sensations such as pressure, tingling, and warmth that are a common sensations from the sterile, unaltered filiform needles during treatment

What Else Should I Know?

NDs only use sterile unaltered filiform needles.

It is important to eat a light snack before your treatment and drink water afterwards